Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 18815, John Edwards, Mass.

SERVICE
NUMBER
Mass.
Edwards, John
S. 18815
carded
CONTENTS

10-147
Massachusetts
John Edwards
of Worcester in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain  of the  Regt commanded by Col Gurnea in the  Regt une for 12  12  Days
Miles
Inscribed on the Roll of Mass , at the rate of 41 Dollars 54 Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 21 st day of March 1833 and Seer Abijah Bigelow Worcester Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $83.08 Semi-ant. allowance ending 4 Sept " 20.77
$103.85
{ Revolutionary Claim, } { Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by S H B Blair Clerk Book 10 , Vol. 2 nd Page 21
81 Miles

Declaration, in order, to obtain the benefit of the act of congress, passed June 7th 1832 - - - Commonwealth of Massachusetts Worcester County ss.
On this seventh  tenth day of July  June 1832, personally appeared before me the subscribed a Justice of the peace  Court of Sessions  for  for  Worcester County  the Commonwealth  John  John Edwards of Charlton in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid being Seventy nine years of age, who being first duly sworn, according to Law, doth on his oath in his oath, make the following Declaration, in order, to obtain the benefit of the act of congress passed June 7th 1832 To wit I John Edwards of Charlton in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid upon the Alarm given April 19th 1775 joined the first Militia Company in said Charlton under the command of Captain Samuel Curtis and went with said Company to Roxbury near Boston where I remained for fourteen days, at the discharge I knew with the enclosed will fully show said Company belonged to the Regiment of Col Ebenezer Learned upon my return Home to Charlton in the Month of May in the year 1775 I enlisted into the same Company under the command of the same Captain Samuel Curtis and Col Ebenezer Learned Regiment enlisted for eight months and served out the term of my enlistment at Roxbury near Boston Samuel Learned was my Lieutenant and William Dally was my Ensign, both belonged to Charlton - After my time expired at Roxbury I returned Home to Charlton in December 1775 I was discharged - but my discharge is lost

In August 1776 John Stevens of Chastleton now dead - was drafted into the company of Captain Abijah Lord who also is deceased. I was hired by said John Stevens to take his place and accordingly I did take his place in said Lord's company and served two months - I marched with said Lord's company into the State of New York and was stationed some time at a place, called Dobbs Ferry - twenty six miles above the City of New York on the Hudson River, when my term of service expired I returned Home to Chastleton said company with all the officers returned Home with me - Mr Humphrey of Oxford was Lieutenant and William Connings - Ensign a few days there came an order from Rhode Island - I volunteered into said Abijah Lord's company again and marched to Providence in Rhode Island I served two months there - We were stationed in the College at Providence Abijah Lord was Captain - and Mr Humphrey was Lieutenant and William Dally was En- sign - I am unable to state positively whether I had a written Discharge or not if I had it is lost the Soldiers and Officers of said Company are dead or moved away so that I am now not able to my knowledge to prove my term of service in the State of New York and Rhode Island except by my own declaration under oath - While I served two months in State of New

23 York is Captain Lamb's Company or state before - said Company belonged to Col Conner Regiment who belonged at Grotonfield in the County of Worcester - The Majors of said Regiment, were Barr and Hays - The Officers who commanded at Groton since I do not remember - I have no Documentary Evidence except what is hereto annexed and do not now know of any Person by whom I can prove my Service in the State of New York and State of Rhode Island - I further declare That I am very feeble and infirm and notably unable to attend court to be examined. I hereby relinquish every claim whatever to a Pension or annuity except the present and declare that my Name is not on the Pension Roll of the Agency of any State -
July 4
John D. Dyer
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid before me Frederick H. Norton Justice
We John Wilder & a clergyman residing in Clinton and Salem Town Physician residing in the same Clinton - hereby certify that we are well acquaint- ed with Lt John Edwards, who has subscribed and sworn to the above Declaration; that we believe him to be seventy nine years of age; that he is respected and believed in the neigh- borhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
John Wilder R.
Salem Town
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss. July 21, 1832 Then personally appeared John Wilder and John Town who signed the above certificate in my presence and made oath that the same is true before me Frederick H. Norton Justice

A List of Interrogatories propounded to John Edwards an Applicant for a Pension for services in the Army of the Revolution by me The Subscribed a Justice of the Peace  Judge of the Court of Common Pleas
1. Where and in what year were you born?
Ans. I was born January 13 th A D 1753 - in Oxford.
2. Have you any Record of your Age and if so where is it?
Ans. I have no Record of my Age whatever I know my Age from Tradition only.
3. Where were you living, when called into Service; where have you lived since, the revolutionary War, and where do you now live.
Ans. I was born as my Parents always told me in Oxford at Oxford adjoining Chastleton. Chastleton was taken from Oxford being formerly Oxford - when called into Service I lived in Chastleton where I now live.
4. How were you called into Service; were you drafted; did you volunteer or were you a Substitute - and if a Substitute for whom.
Ans. At the commencement of the revolutionary War in April 1775 I volunteered and went to Roxbury at the Shaw and remained forty days in a company of Militia commanded by Captain Salwell consisting Chastleton recruited soon after my Return.

in May 1775 I enlisted for Eight Months into the same Company commanded by Samuel Crafts and with said Company I marched to Roxbury near Boston and served out the term of my Enlistment. In August 1776 I was hired by John Stevens who was drafted for two Months into a Company commanded by Captain Abijah Durd. I took the place of said Stevens and served two Months in the State of New York, as stated in the Body of my Declaration aforesaid: after I returned from my term of duty in New York, I soon after upon an alarm being made; that the British were at New port in Rhode- Island, I went with Captain Abijah Durd's Company to Providence in Rhode Island and served two Months in that Port the Company was stationed in the College
5.
State the names of some of the regular Officers who were with the Troops, when you served; such continental and Militia Regiments as you can recollect, and the general circum- stances of your service; Mr. I belonged to the Regiment while at Roxbury commanded by Col Ebenezer Leav- -ned. The Major of said Regiment were a Mr Holmore of Sutton in Worcester County the other Major name was Scott if I mistake not. While in State of New York I belonged to the Regiment of Col Converse of Brook- -field in Worcester County, the names of the Majors were Bond and Peys - I do not recollect their Christian names - The General Officers in the State of Rhode Island who commanded while I was there, I cannot now remember their names -

6th Did you ever receive a Discharge from the Service; and if so, by whom was it given; and what has become of it -
Ans. The annexed Paper signed by Samuel Curtis  General - stating the names and days the Soldiers served at Roxbury April 19. 1775 is the only discharge I now have - I think I had regular military Discharges at the End of each term of Service I have named in the Body of my declaration but it is so long ago I am now unable to state positively - but if I had discharges they are lost -
7th State the names of Persons to whom you are known in your present Neighborhood, and who can testify as to your character for veracity, and their belief of your services as a Soldier of the Revolution
Ans. I have lived in this Town of Upton over sixty years and believe all will testify that I am a man of truth I will name some of the oldest people in Town -    John D. Dyer John Dyer  Deacon Edmund Eddy    Sgt Ebenezer H. Phillips    Sgt Dan Lumb    William Bickel Esq    John Spurr Esq    John Dyer J.P.    Upton

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester ss.
I the subscriber a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts the corps same being a Court of Record having a Clerk and seal certify that on the seventh day of August 1832 I proceeded to the vicinity of the place of residence of the within nominee John Edwards to take his examination for a pension. The said John Edwards signed the within declaration interrogatories and answers in my presence and made solemn oath to the truth of the same before me. The said John Edwards from old age and bodily infirmity is now unable to attend Court. And I do hereby declare my opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above-named applicant was a revolutionary soldier, and has served as he states. And I do further certify that it appears to me that John Wilder, junior who has signed the preceding certificate is a clergyman resident in the town of Charlton and that Salem Town Dyer who has also signed the same is a resident in said town of Charlton and is a credible person and their statements entitled to credit. I further certify, that I have for many years, been well acquainted with said Salem Town Dyer, and know him to be a person of great respectability.
Solomon Strong, Judge C.C.P. Mass.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss. I Abijah Biglow, clerk of the court of Common Pleas, of said Commonwealth, for the county of Worcester, do hereby certify, that the Honora- -ble Solomon Strong, Esquire, is one of the Justices of said Court, and that his signature to the within certificate, in the matter of the applica- -tion of John Edwards, for a Pension, is in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the Seal of said Court this tenth day of September a. d. 1832. Abijah Biglow, Clerk.

10.028
E
John Edwards
March
12 Mon. 14. days
Alma d
$41.54.
Elijah Bigelow E Worcester Mass

10.028  BRIEF in the case of  John Edwards  County of Worcester  in the State of Massachusetts  (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? Judge  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity? yes  3. How old is he? 79  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     In 1775-19 th April — — 14 Private Gen. Capt. Carleton, Col. Larned   Reenlisted 1775 May — 8 — do. do. Capt. Carleton, Col. Larned   Sub. 1776 August — 2 — do. do. Capt. A. Lord, Lt. Humphrey, Col. Converse   Vol. 1776 — — 2 — do. do. Capt. A. Lamb, Lieut. Humphrey, Majors Bond & Freys  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? none  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? Charlton, Mass.  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional, & a witness, & Documentary  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? The declaration is not attached to the Clerk's Seal as required. 
I certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
J. Waugh Examining Clerk. Feb. 9. 1833.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
Bureau of Pensions,
Washington, D. C., _____, 190_____
In reply to your request of _____, received _____ for a statement of the military history of John Edwards a soldier of the REVOLUTIONARY WAR, you will find below the desired information as contained in his (or his widow's) application for pen- sion on file in this Bureau.
   DATES OF ENLISTMENT OR APPOINTMENT. LENGTH OF SERVICE. RANK. OFFICERS UNDER WHOM SERVICE WAS RENDERED. STATE.   CAPTAIN. COLONEL.     Apr. 19. 1775 14 days Pvt. Samuel Curtiss Ebenezer Learned Mass.   May 1775 8 mos. Samuel Curtiss Ebenezer Learned   Aug. 1776 1 mos. Abijah Lamb Converse   1 mos. Abijah Lamb  
Battles engaged in, _____
Residence of soldier at enlistment, Charlton, Mass.
Date of application for pension, Aug. 7 1832 His claim ad
Residence at date of application, Worcester Co. Mass.
Age at date of application, 6 Jan'y 13, 1753 at Oxford.
Remarks: No data as to family.
In 1832 soldier is referred to as Lieut. Edwards.
Very respectfully,
Commissioner.

Edwards, John S.F. 18815-
List of men of 1 st Co. militia of Charlton, Mass. under Capt. Samuel Curtiss, Col. Ebenezer Learned's regt. on alarm of Apr. 19, 1775; dated Nov. 21, 1775; endorsed with return of men of Capt. Samuel Curtiss' 1 st Co., militia Charlton Mass., Col. Ebenezer Learned's regt. who had been discharged. has been removed from this case to be  and sent to the War Department.
Mch. 19, 1910
J.R.K.
Sent to War Dept. Jan. 16, 1913

P 18815
INVALID.
1912 Oct. 9 Hist. Soc. Chas. F. Capiland Letter in P.F. 16/114 Sylvester Finney.
File No. 18815-
John Edwards
Dr Rev War
Act: June 7 th 39
Index:—Vol. 1 , Page 111
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of John Edwards which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? yes VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? the Judge has IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? yes
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it?
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? Document
XIV. † If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. ‡ Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? No
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered? yes
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, deposeth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
† QUERE XIV.  Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡ QUERE XVI.  Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
☞ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

I Ebenezer Swift of Charlton in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts being eighty, one years of age - do declare that at the time of said Charlton enlisted into Captain Samuel West's Com- pany in Charlton in 1775 for Eight Months and served out his term of enlistment in Roxbury near Boston - I enlisted into the same Company at the same time We both returned home to Charlton together when our time was out - The next year We both joined Captain Shipton's Com- pany and marched to the State of New York - We were stationed on the Hudson River - We both served two months further the Defeat with not -
Ebenezer Swift
1832
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Worcester ss. July 21
Then personally appeared Ebenezer Swift who signed the above Affidavit by his mark by my direction his Hand at his request and made solemn Oath, That the same is true before me.
Herderick S. Boston Jus Datis
I hereby certify that I have been acquainted with Mr Ebenezer Swift who signed the above Affidavit more than twenty years and know that he is repu- ted to be a man of truth by his neighbors I also certify I found him very sick upon his bed and wholly unable to help himself at all and unable to attend court to be examined Herderick S. Boston Jus Datis

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To all to whom these presents shall come, I Abijah Bigelow, Clerk of the Judicial Courts, holden within and for the County of Worcester, do hereby certify, that Frederic W. Bottom Esquire, before whom the within affidavit of Ebenezer Swift, and the annexed affidavit of John Wilder Junr. and Salem Towne, were made and sworn to, is a Justice of the Peace within and for said County, and that his signature thereto appear to me to be in his own proper hand writing.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the County Seal, this tenth day of September A.D. 1832.
Abijah Bigelow, Clk.